Containerships sold to Indian Breakers

[Andrew McAlpine]

The following container vessels have been sold to Indian Breakers during January 2009,

Ankara

http://www.shipspotting.com/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=791285

Maersk Barcelona

http://www.shipspotting.com/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=786023

CMA CGM Jasmin

http://www.shipspotting.com/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=822853

http://www.shipspotting.com/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=822855

no doubt we will see more being sold in the near future

[Gerolf Drebes]

Now as well the containership lovers will start to loose tears while well known ships are disappearing.
As lover of conventional cargo ships I have this problem since years.
Gerolf

[Manuel Hernandez Lafuente]

Of course Gerolf, you are right, but always we have her pictures  :-)

Regards,
Manuel

[Cornelia Klier]

Not really a problem, for every ship that does leave, it seems we do see a newbuild arriving, so the word is allright for the ones who do have an interest in containerships as well :-)
Of course in a perfect world I would be able to take a photo of the old rustbucket that is off to India before it leaves, but it isn't like that.

[Morten]

I have to say though, the two maersk ships are long overdue! Both ships are over 30 years old! I sailed with a captain who was a cadet onboard "Ankara" back while it was under danish flag. I saw it in Bremerhaven about a year ago and it looked old and worn out! But these ships were actually quite innovative back when they were built being combined container and ro-ro vessels with a large garage behind the superstructure. The ships was converted to pure container vessel after they found out that the innovative idea wasn't that clever afterall as there were very few combined ro-ro/container terminals around the world  :-D

I have to say that, though I love old ships as they are much more aesthetically pleasing to look at than modern lego ships, I'm not sad to see them go. Because as they get older and they become more expensive to run, they are switched to flags of convenience and they become mismaintained. So in the end, they end up looking like sailing wrecks! Also, as a professional mariner, I can't help but wonder how the safety of the crew is onboard such ships! So for me, it's good riddance to these old ships!

[Dave van Spronsen]

To bad one of my oldtime favorite Maersk Barcelona is going for scrap
When she was bound for Rotterdam,everytime she look verry good
I shall miss her :-(  :-(  :-(

[Andrew McAlpine]

Gerolf,

us containership lovers will know what you have gone through now as more classic/older vessels are lost!!

I have only seen one of this maersk class Ankara in Antwerp a few years ago.
although these vessels were old I did like the look of them.  :-(

[Dave van Spronsen]

For all containership lovers we still have MSC
MSC have wonderfull old containervessels
Verry nice to see  :lol:  :lol:

[Morten]

Yeah... Don't think MSC have ever scrapped a single ship!  :-D That black color is also very good at covering up rust...

[Cornelia Klier]

Nah, they have scrapped enough now, although not enough YET I'd say. Comes time, comes a free spot on an Indian beach. What we do get instead ? MSC Sola, MSC Daniela & family  :lol:

[spotti]

ANKARA and MAERSK BARCELONA belonged to the first series of containerships of Maersk: the 9 A-vessels, German built, steam turbines, and  later modified (extension by 40 feet in 1978, and extended and re-engined in 1983/84).
They were all built as pure container carriers, however, three of them - Adrian, Albert, and Arnold - had an 4-level garage installed during the second refit.
The identity of these ships are somewhat confused at Lloyd's, due to the 1983/84 modification, where several of the ships swopped the stern section with the new engine.

One or two of the garage-vessels are still sailing.

Niels

[Cornelia Klier]

I have seen photos here of the "Jolly Nero", very unusual look.
http://www.shipspotting.com/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=712094  :-D

[Morten]

Seems I got my facts backwards then :-D thanks for the update...

[Tony des Landes]

We still see the former Alva Maersk from that series at Napier as the MSC Antwerp. It's amazing how different she looks with a black hull compared to the distinctive blue on Maersk vessels.

Tony d

[Gerolf Drebes]

You think wrong,
who remembers the famous 1971 MSC Claudia, started her carreer as Kamakura Maru and was the first container with more than 50.000 gross tons.
Gerolf